Scroll compressor capacity modulation with hybrid solenoid and fluid control

ABSTRACT

A scroll compressor includes a compressor shell having first and second scroll members. The scroll members each have a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from its base. The generally spiral wraps of the first and second scroll members interfit to define compression chambers. A shaft causes the second scroll member to orbit relative to the first scroll member. At least one bypass port is formed in a base of one scroll member, and communicates with at least one of the compression chambers. The bypass port communicates with a passage leading to a suction pressure chamber within the compressor shell. A solenoid valve is movable between a reduced capacity position and a full capacity position, and selectively supplies a pressurized fluid to a fluid valve associated with the bypass port, such that movement of the solenoid can control whether the bypass port is open or closed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A scroll compressor is provided with a capacity modulation control,including a solenoid valve which can be moved to selectively control thesupply of fluid to bypass valves to move the compressor between a fullcapacity and a reduced capacity position.

Scroll compressors are becoming widely utilized in refrigerantcompression applications. In a scroll compressor, a pair of generallyspiral wraps interfit to define compression chambers. One of the wrapsis caused to orbit relative to the other, and as the two move, the sizeof the compression chamber is reduced, thereby compressing an entrappedrefrigerant.

Under certain conditions, the capacity, or amount of refrigerantcompressed by the compressor, may be desirably reduced. As an example,if the compressor is incorporated into an air conditioning system, andthe cooling load is low, then it is more energy efficient to compressless refrigerant.

Various ways are known for reducing the capacity, including moving avalve to selectively open a passage to allow refrigerant to move from apartially compressed location back to suction. However, providing powerto these valves has been somewhat challenging.

In particular, when electric valves such as solenoid valves have beenutilized to provide capacity control within a scroll compressor, theyhave been mounted within a hermetically sealed compressor shell. Thus,the valves are exposed to the refrigerant circulating within the shell.The terminals that supply electric power to the valves must then have ahermetically sealed connection. In addition, since the valve is withinthe shell, it is somewhat difficult to cool the valve, or replace thevalve.

It has been proposed to mount such a valve entirely outside of a shell.However, this requires communicating flow passages, which are outside ofthe shell also, and thus leads to some plumbing challenges.

In co-pending patent application Ser. No. 12/555,037, filed on Sep. 8,2009, entitled “Scroll Compressor Capacity Modulation With SolenoidMounted Outside a Compressor Shell,” the assignee of the presentinvention has disclosed and claimed a system wherein a solenoid controlfor capacity modulation is mounted outside a compressor shell, and has amechanical component extending through the shell. While this system hasgreat potential, it would be desirable to improve upon the system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A scroll compressor includes a compressor shell having first and secondscroll members. The scroll members each have a base and a generallyspiral wrap extending from its base. The generally spiral wraps of thefirst and second scroll members interfit to define compression chambers.A shaft causes the second scroll member to orbit relative to the firstscroll member. At least one bypass port is formed in a base of onescroll member, and communicates with at least one of the compressionchambers. The bypass port communicates with a passage leading to asuction pressure chamber within the compressor shell. A solenoid valveis movable between a reduced capacity position and a full capacityposition, and selectively supplies a pressurized fluid to a fluid valveassociated with the bypass port, such that movement of the solenoid cancontrol whether the bypass port is open or closed.

These and other features of the present invention can be best understoodfrom the following specification and drawings, the following of which isa brief description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along a different line within the FIG.1 embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the FIG. 1 embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a control diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a control diagram of a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A scroll compressor 15 is illustrated in FIG. 1 having a driveshaft 20driving an orbiting scroll 22 through a non-orbiting connection, asknown. The orbiting scroll 22 orbits relative to a non-orbiting scrollmember 24. Wraps on the two scroll members interfit to definecompression chambers 26. The compression chambers are reduced in size asthe orbiting scroll 22 orbits, and the compression chambers move towarda discharge port 27. From the discharge port 27, discharge pressurerefrigerant moves into a discharge plenum 31, and eventually out to adischarge port 29 to a downstream use.

Bypass ports 28 extend through a base of the non-orbiting scroll, andcommunicate with valve members 32 mounted within valve housings 30. Aspring 34 biases the valve members 32 away from the ports 28. When thevalve members 32 are biased away, fluid in the compression chambers canmove through the ports 28, into passages 17, and back to a suctionpressure chamber 19. The suction pressure chamber 19 is also suppliedwith suction refrigerant from a suction port 38.

As shown, a control chamber 36 biases the valves 32 against the springforce 34.

As can be appreciated from FIG. 2, the control chamber 36 receives apressurized fluid through a supply 44 from a solenoid member 40 mountedoutside a shell 42. The solenoid includes its electrical connectionsmounted outside the shell, while a mechanical member moves internally ofthe shell. This arrangement may be generally as disclosed in theco-pending application Ser. No. 12/555,037, cited above. In the controldiagrams of FIGS. 4 and 5, the moving component, which moves against theforce of the spring, is within the shell, while the electricalconnection is outside of the shell, as shown somewhat schematically bythe dashed line for the discharge gas plenum 31.

As can be appreciated from FIG. 3, the solenoid 40 controls the flow ofa pressurized fluid from a pair of lines 44 leading to a pair of valveshousings 30, and into the control chambers 36. A valve member 50 acts toopen the supply of discharge pressure refrigerant from the chamber 31 tothe control chambers 36 should the solenoid valve 40 fail. In thismanner, should the solenoid valve 40 fail, the valves 32 will be biasedto a closed position.

At start-up, the solenoid 40 is moved to a position where it blocks flowof pressurized fluid to the control chambers 36. At this point, thespring 34 may bias the valve 32 away from the port 28, and there islittle resistance to start-up due to the reduced capacity. After aperiod of time, a control sends a signal to the solenoid 40 thatincreased capacity is desirable. At that time, the solenoid will move toa position such that it supplies pressurized fluid through the lines 44to the chambers 36. This pressurized fluid may come from the dischargepressure plenum 31, and will act to drive the valve 32 against the forceof the spring 34, and close the ports 28. Should it later be determinedreduced capacity is in order, then the valves are moved back to the openposition.

As shown in FIG. 4, in a first embodiment, a single solenoid is drivento a position by a spring 42 where it blocks the flow of pressurizedrefrigerant from the discharge pressure plenum 31 to the control chamber36 on each of the valve assemblies 30. However, when the solenoid 40 isenergized, it will allow the flow of the pressurized fluid to thepressure chambers 36, and this will block the bypass of refrigerant fromthe compression chambers through the ports 28, and back to the suctionplenum 19.

As shown, the valve 50 may be as simple as a valve body including a ball200 spring biased by spring 202 to a closed position. If the valve 40fails, and once the pressure in the plenum 31 reaches a significantlyhigh level, then the valve 200 will open, and pressurized gas can flowto close the valves 30. Of course, other valve arrangements could beutilized.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 can achieve two steps of capacity. Thecompressor can supply 100% capacity, or some reduced capacity when bothof the ports 28 are opened. Thus, as an example, there may be 100%capacity and 60% capacity available that the control X can achieve bycontrolling the operation of the solenoid 40.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment wherein there are a pair of solenoids140, each connected to separate valve housings 130 through fluid supplylines 134. A worker of ordinary skill in the art can review the FIG. 1-3embodiments, and understand how to mount the solenoids 140, andcommunicate to the valve housings 130. In this manner, the control X cannow achieve three steps of capacity control. Either full capacity can beachieved by closing both valves 130, a first reduced step can beachieved by opening one of the valves, a second step can be achieved byopening both valves. In fact, if the amount of bypass provided by thetwo separate ports 128 differs, then even a third step of reducedcapacity can be achieved. That is, should the left-hand side port 128reduce capacity by more than the right-hand side port 128, then onecould achieve the capacity step of having the left-hand port open, theright-hand port open, or both ports open.

Also, in other embodiments, a single solenoid may be arranged to allowthe two valves 130 to be separately open/closed.

Although embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, a worker ofordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modificationswould come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, thefollowing claims should be studied to determine the true scope andcontent of this invention.

1. A scroll compressor comprising: a compressor shell having first andsecond scroll members, said first scroll member having a base and agenerally spiral wrap extending from its base; said second scroll memberhaving a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from its base, saidgenerally spiral wraps of said first and second scroll membersinterfitting to define compression chambers; a shaft for causing saidsecond scroll member to orbit relative to said first scroll member; atleast one bypass port formed in said base of said first scroll member,and communicating with at least one of said compression chambers, andsaid bypass port communicating with a passage leading to a suctionpressure chamber within said compressor shell; and a solenoid valvebeing movable between a reduced capacity position and a full capacityposition, and selectively supplying a pressurized fluid to a fluid valveassociated with said at least one bypass port, such that movement of thesolenoid can control whether at least one bypass port is open or closed.2. The scroll compressor as set forth in claim 1, wherein there are apair of said bypass port each communicating with said passage leading tosaid suction pressure chamber.
 3. The scroll compressor as set forth inclaim 2, wherein there are a pair of solenoid valves, with each of saidsolenoid valves being associated with one of said bypass ports.
 4. Thescroll compressor as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of saidsolenoids can be separately controlled to achieve at least two levels ofcapacity reduction.
 5. The scroll compressor as set forth in claim 2,wherein there is a single solenoid valve communicating to a pair ofbypass valves through a pair of fluid supply lines.
 6. The scrollcompressor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said solenoid valve controlsthe supply of pressurized fluid from a discharge plenum.
 7. The scrollcompressor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said solenoid valve ismounted outside of said compressor shell, with a moving part movingwithin said compressor shell.
 8. The scroll compressor as set forth inclaim 1, wherein a bypass valve may be opened if said solenoid valvefails to allow the supply of pressurized fluid to the fluid valve toensure that the fluid valve will be held in a position closing saidbypass port.